Automatic lock operation indicator for keys



Oct. 17, 1939. s. MERKL AUTOMATIC LOCK OPERATION INDICATOR FOR KEYS Filed NOV. 22, 1938 Patented Oct. 17, 1939 UNITED STATES AUTOMATIC LOCK OPERATION INDICATOR FOR KEYS Sebastian Merkl, New York, N. Y., assignor of one-third to Jan Leyenaar, New York, N. Y.

8 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in an automatic lock operation indicator for keys.

The invention has for an object the construction of an indicator associated with a key for a lock and adapted to indicate whether the key was used, the last time, to open or close the lock.

More specifically, the invention embodies an arrangement whereby when the key is used to close the lock the word Closed appears on the indicator so that at any time thereafter upon examination of the key one would know that the lock has been closed. It is also proposed to arrange the indicator to display the word Open and to obscure the word Closed when the key is used to open the lock.

Many people are uncertain a moment after they have left their homes or other establishments whether or not they locked the door. In order to remove this uncertainty, it is proposed that the person need only examine his key to ascertain whether or not the lock has been closed.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an automatic lock closing indicator and key constructed according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an edge elevational view of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one portion of the device.

Fig. 7 is a perspective View of another portion of the device.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line 8--8 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one of the keying elements used in the indicator mechanism.

The automatic lock operation indicator for keys is used in conjunction with a key bit it].

A cylindrical member H is mounted on the base end of the key bit Ill and is formed with a circumferential groove 52. A pin I3 is arranged within the groove at one point thereof. A shell 14 is provided with a skirt wall I l engaging about the cylindrical member H and over the PATENT OFFICE said groove l2, and with an end wall M formed with an arcuate opening I5 through which a portion of the end of the said cylindrical member ll may be seen. A handle i6 for the key bit Ii] is mounted on the end wall M 5 A pair of keying elements I! is arranged in the groove I2 and engage into restricted slots I8 formed in the said skirt wall M These keying elements I! form abutments for the pin l3 to limit relative turning of the cylindrical member 10 H and shell M from said first mentioned position to one in which a different portion of the end of said cylindrical member I I may be seen. Markings are arranged on the end of the cylindrical member i9 and comprise the word Closed indicated by reference numeral l9 and the Word Open indicated by reference numeral 20. A casing 2! is used for covering the cylindrical member II. This casing has a skirt wall 2| which engages over the circumference of the cylindrical member, and an end wall 2 I engaging over an end area of the skirt wall Mi and the cylindrical member II.

A means is provided for releasably holding the cylindrical member I l in specific relative positions with respect to the shell l5. This means includes a small expansion spring 23 engaged within an opening 24 formed inwards from the free end of the cylindrical member ID. A small ball 25 is rested upon the outer end of the spring 23 and is forced outwards and engages one of several semi-spherical recesses 26 formed on the inner face of the end wall l4 of the shell.

The key bit i0 is of conventional form to engage and operate the tumblers or bolt of a lock, depending merely on the design thereof. The bit H] is supported on the cylindrical member H by engaging between small flanges 26 formed upon the end of the cylindrical member. A fastening element 2'! engages between the flanges 26' and the key bit for holding these parts together. The handle I6 is secured to the shell M by reason of engaging between parallel flanges 28. A fastening element 29 is engaged between these flanges and the handle l6 for holding these parts together. The casing 2| frictionally maintains its position over the parts as illustrated in Figs. 4-. and 8. The keying elements I! are of suflicient depth to extend through the grooves i2 and through the slots E8.

The operation of the device is as follows:

Assume the article to be in the condition shown in Figs. 1 and 5 of the drawing. In this condition the word Closed is viewable through the arcuate opening l5. When the key is inserted in a lock to operate the lock, the bit portion ll] engages in the lock and the person is required to turn the key by turning the handle It. The small ball 25 engage in one of the recesses 26 produces SllfilCiBl'lt resistance to cause all of the parts to maintain relatively stationary positions during the turning of the key to open a look.

But when the key reaches the end of its opening position a small additional turn on the handle 16 will cause the handle l6 to turn the shell l4. At this instant the ball 25 rides out from one of the recesses 26. The shell l4 continues to be turned relative to the cylindrical member II which is now held stationary by the lock until one of the keying elements I! strikes the pin l3. This may be better understood by examining Fig. 5 and imagining the shell [4 to be turned anticlockwise. As the shell turns in this direction it carries the keying element I! along with it until the latter strikes the pin 13. Then the shell may be turned no further. At this position the ball 25 will re-engage in one of the recesses 26. The key may now be removed from the lock.

When the key is examined it will be found that the word Open is now viewable through the arcuate opening l5. A person walking away and then desiring to know whether or not the door has been left open or closed, merely inspects his key and upon the seeing the word Open knows that the lock is open.

When the lock is closed the operation of the indicator is substantially the same as before, except for the fact that the parts are turned back to their original positions in which the word Closed now appears through the arcuate opening l5.

With the arrangement of the parts as shown on the drawing it is required that the shell I4 be turned through 180 for changing the indication from Closed to Open and vice versa. There are two recesses 26 arranged to engage the ball 25 in these particular positions. When the shell I4 is turned through 90 the ball 25 will engage another one of the recesses 26 and in this condition the indicator is neutral and no indications are viewable through the opening l5. There may be occasions when it is required that the key be set to the neutral position. It is for this reason that the extra position is provided.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. An automatic lock operation indicator for keys, comprising a key bit, a cylindrical member mounted on the base end of said key bit and having a circumferential groove with a pin in one point thereof, a shell having a skirt wall engaging about said cylindrical member and over said groove and an end wall formed with an arcuate opening through which a portion of the end of said cylindrical member may be seen, a handle for the key bit mounted on said end wall, keying elements mounted in said groove and engaging in restricted slots formed in said skirt wall and forming abutments for said pin to limit relative turning of said cylindrical member and shell from said first mentioned position to one in which a different portion of the endof said cylindrical member may be seen, and markings to indicate Open and Closed on said portions.

2. An automatic lock operation indicator for keys, comprising a key bit, a cylindrical member mounted on the base end of said key bit and having a circumferential groove with a pin in one point thereof, a shell having a skirt wall engaging about said cylindrical member and over said groove and an end wall formed with an arcuate opening through which a portion of the end of said cylindrical member may be seen, a handle for the key bit mounted on said end wall, keying elements mounted in said groove and engaging in restricted slots formed in said skirt wall and forming abutments for said pin to limit relative turning of said cylindrical member and shell from said first mentioned position to one in which a different portion of the end of said cylindrical member may be seen, markings to indicate Open and Closed on said portions, and a casing for covering said cylindrical member.

3. An automatic lock. operation indicator for keys, comprising a key bit, a cylindrical member mounted on the base end of said key bit and having a circumferential groove with a pin in one point thereof, a shell having a skirt wall engaging about said cylindrical member and over said groove and an end wall formed with an arcuate opening through which a portion of the end of said cylindrical member may be seen, a handle for the key bit mounted on said end wall, keying elements mounted in said groove and engaging in restricted slots formed in said skirt wall and forming abutments for said pin to limit relative turning of said cylindrical member and shell from said first mentioned position to one in which a different portion of the end of said cylindrical member may be seen, markings to indicate Open and Closed on said portions, and a casing for covering said cylindrical member, said casing having a skirt portion engaging over the circumference of the cylindrical member, and an end wall portion engaging over a portion of the shell and a portion of the cylindrical member.

4. An automatic lock operation indicator for keys, comprising a key bit, a cylindrical member mounted on the base end of said key bit and having a circumferential groove with a pin in one point thereof, a shell having a skirt wall engaging about said cylindrical member and over said groove and an end wall formed with an arcuate opening through which a portion of the end of said cylindrical member may be seen, a handle for the key bit mounted on said end wall, keying elements mounted in said groove and engaging in restricted slots formed in said skirt wall and forming abutments for said pin to limit relative turning of said cylindrical member and shell from said first mentioned position to one in which a different portion of the end of said cylindrical member may be seen, markings to indicate Open and Closed on said portions, and means for releasably holding the cylindrical member fixed in position relative to the shell.

5. An automatic lock operation indicator for keys, comprising a key bit, a cylindrical member mounted on the base end of said key bit and having a circumferential groove with a pin in one point thereof, a shell having a skirt wall engaging about said cylindrical member and over saidgroove and an end wall formed with an arcuate opening through which a portion of the end of said cylindrical member may be seen, a handle for the key bit mounted on said end wall, keying elements mounted in said groove and engaging in restricted slots formed in said skirt wall and forming abutments for said pin to limit relative turning of said cylindrical member and shell from said first mentioned position to one in which a diiferent portion of the end of said cylindrical member may be seen, markings to indicate Open and Closed on said portions, and means for releasibly holding the cylindrical member fixed in position relative to the shell, including a spring urged pawl mounted on one of the parts and engageable with recesses formed in the other of the parts.

6. An automatic lock operation indicator for keys, comprising a key bit, a cylindrical member mounted on the base end of said key bit and having a circumferential groove with a pin in one point thereof, a shell having a skirt wall engaging about said cylindrical member and over said groove and an end wall formed with an arcuate opening through which a portion of the end of said cylindrical member may be seen, a handle for the key bit mounted on said end wall, keying elements mounted in said groove and engaging in restricted slots formed in said skirt wall and forming abutments for said pin to limit relative turning of said cylindrical member and shell from said first mentioned position to one in which different portion of the end of said cylindrical member may be seen, markings to indicate Open and Closed on said portions, and means for releasably holding the cylindrical member fixed in position relative to the shell, including a spring urged pawl mounted on one of the parts and engageable with recesses formed in the other of the parts, said spring being housed within an opening formed in the cylindrical member.

7. A key comprising, in combination, a key bit provided with an end section having a pair of spaced indication markings, said markings corresponding to Open and Closed states of a lock, a key bit actuating element comprising a handle section provided with a shell portion, said end section being positioned within the interior of said shell portion, said shell being provided with an opening adapted to permit viewing of each of said indication markings upon rotation of the shell to positions such that each marking is in registration with said opening, means common to said end section and shell portion for normally maintaining said bit and actuating element fixed related during lock operation and permitting continued rotation of the shell portion after a lock is actuated, and additional means common to said end section and shell portion for preventing said continued rotation of said shell portion after a predetermined arc of motion.

8. In a key of the lock operation indicator type, a key bit provided \mth an indicator section, said section having spaced indicia on a surface thereof to indicate Open and Closed lock positions of the key bit, a handle for said key bit provided with a shell section, said indicator section being positioned within the shell section interior, said shell section being provided with an opening located to be in registration with either of said spaced indicia upon rotation of said handle with respect to said key bit, spring-actuated means common to said indicator section and the said shell section for normally maintaining said key bit and handle in fixed relation during the actuation of a lock, said means being constructed to permit rotation of the handle with respect to the key bit subsequent to lock adjustment, and auxiliary means operatively associated with the shell section and indicator section for preventing said last named rotation after a predetermined arc of rotation.

SEBASTIAN MERKL. 

